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B.S. in Communication

Clarkson’s Communication degree integrates communication, design and technology. Students develop a highly transferable and flexible repertoire of abilities and a solid, conceptual understanding of communication theory and practice. Together these prepare students to pursue professional careers or graduate programs in this dynamic field.

Starting with a set of five required courses, students develop abilities which are the foundation of any successful 21st century career in communication: writing, speaking, graphic design, teamwork and communication theory. Students then enhance and deepen these abilities through seven additional communication courses, which can be focused in areas like new media or technical communication. Students may select specific courses or, in conjunction with Communication & Media faculty, design independent study projects to further personal and professional interests.

In classes and in project work, students learn to analyze communication problems and to generate successful solutions, applying, when appropriate, various communication technologies. Our program enables students to learn and experiment with computer-mediated communication, digital video and audio, animation, and other emerging communication technologies and electronic media. Students also learn and examine the societal implications of such technologies.

Outcome 1: Students will develop informative and persuasive communication skills.

Outcome 2: Students will develop competencies in a range of communication technologies.

Outcome 3: Students will develop an ability to work effectively and ethically in the professional workplace.

Outcome 4: Students will develop the ability to critically analyze language and media use in society and the workplace.

Program Requirements

Communication Majors take five required COMM courses: COMM 210 Rhetoric for Business, Science and Engineering, COMM 313 Professional Communication, COMM 341 Introduction to Web Design, COMM 410 Theory & Philosophy of Communication, COMM 490 Communication Internship, and seven other elective COMM courses, such as COMM 221 2D Digital Design, COMM 310 Mass Media and Society, COMM 327 Digital Video I, and COMM 322 Typography and Design.
In addition, the general requirements for the B.S. in Communication ensure that students have substantial exposure to mathematics, science, technology, computing, and liberal arts. Communication majors are also required to obtain 15 credit hours in an external field (e.g., biology, computer science, digital arts, history, information systems and business processes (ISBP), information technology, psychology) which often provides them with a secondary field for further personal or professional development.

Students can use the remaining credits required for graduation to pursue individual interests or career goals. COMM490 (Internship) serves as a bridge to industry or to advanced study in the field. Students may choose to complete their internship by doing professional communication work for offices on campus or for off-campus businesses and organizations.

Students may earn a double major by fulfilling the requirements for the B.S. in Communication and another discipline at Clarkson, often without overload coursework. Students pursuing other majors may acquire a Minor in Communication.

Social Documentation is a double major integrating a communication and media major with a social science, humanities, or liberal studies major. It emphasizes critical inquiries into societal issues along with the study of recording and documenting theories, techniques and technologies. A substantive knowledge base in a social science or humanities discipline enables students to ground their communication degree in an area of interest that will also give them a distinctive perspective. Likewise, the critical thinking, persuasive, and media production skills learned from the communication program will empower the social science or humanities major to more effectively create products that can influence, entertain or educate. For more information, see the Social Documentation Curriculum .

Along with meeting the requirements of the Clarkson Common Experience , Communication majors must fulfill the following requirements:

REQUIREMENTS

GENERAL REQS: 26 hrs.

COMMUNICATION REQS: 36 hrs.

Course

Cr. Hrs.

Course

Title

Cr. Hrs.

All Knowledge Areas must be fulfilled

COMM210

Theory of Rhetoric for Business,

Mathematics Courses

Science and Engineering*

3

(includ. Stat 282)

6

COMM313

Professional Communication

3

Science Courses

COMM341

Intro. to Web Design

3

(includ. lab course)

7

COMM410

Theory and Philosophy of

Computer Courses

6

Comm.*

3

Add'l Math, Science,

COMM490

Communication Internship

3

or Computer Course

3

Plus 7 Communication

University Seminar

3

Courses

21

First-Year Seminar

1

External Field: 15 hours

Five courses to be chosen in consultation with advisor in a subject area outside the department, such as the following:

Biology

Environmental Science & Policy

Business

History

Chemistry

Information Technology

Computer Science

Mathematics

Digital Arts & Sciences

Physical Therapy

Engineering

Physics

Psychology

FREE ELECTIVES: 45 hours

Students choose the remaining hours without restriction to take additional Communication courses, or additional liberal arts, engineering, business, or science courses; to pursue another external field; to transfer credit from junior and community colleges; to double major; or to design individual areas of study.

The Communication program is designed to be flexible. In most cases, students work closely with their academic advisor to arrange an appropriate sequence of courses. The following eight-semester plan is typical only in that it indicates students should take the general requirements before pursuing the external field requirement. Since all courses are not offered each semester, and since some courses in the external field may have prerequisites, students should seek the guidance of their academic advisors in planning their academic program.

*Must be taken in addition to courses in Part I, General Requirements.

Communication Curriculum

FIRST YEAR

First Semester

Second Semester

Course

Title

Cr. Hrs.

Course

Title

Cr. Hrs.

COMM210

Theory of Rhetoric

3

COMM Elective

3

COMM214

Computer Applications

COMM341

Intro to Web Design

3

& Concepts

3

Elective

3

UNIV190

The Clarkson Seminar

3

Math Elective (Stat. 282)

3

Math Elective

3

Science Elective w/lab

4

Science Elective

3

16

FY100

First-Year Seminar

1

16

SOPHOMORE YEAR

First Semester

Second Semester

Course

Title

Cr. Hrs.

Course

Title

Cr. Hrs.

COMM Elective

3

COMM313

Prof. Communication

3

COMM Elective

3

COMM Elective

3

External Field

3

External Field

3

Elective

3

Elective

3

Elective

3

Elective

3

15

15

JUNIOR YEAR

First Semester

Second Semester

Course

Title

Cr. Hrs.

Course

Title

Cr. Hrs.

COMM Elective

3

COMM Elective

3

MA/SC/Computing Elective

3

Elective

3

Elective

3

External Field

3

External Field

3

Elective

3

Elective

3

Elective

3

15

15

SENIOR YEAR

First Semester

Second Semester

Course

Title

Cr. Hrs.

Course

Title

Cr. Hrs.

COMM410

Theory and Philosophy

3

COMM Elective

3

COMM490

Internship

3

Electives

11

External Field

3

14

Electives

6

15

Topical Listing of Communication Courses

Not all courses are offered each year or each semester (see annual Courses publication)